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Ernie Cope

{{short description|American stock car racing driver and crew chief}}

{{Infobox NASCAR driver

| name = Ernie Cope

| image =

| caption =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1969|07|17}}

| birth_place = Tacoma, Washington

| achievements =

| awards =

| Total_Cup_Races = 1

| Years_In_Cup = 1

| Cup_Car_Team =

| Prev_Cup_Pos =

| Previous_Year =

| Best_Cup_Pos = 71st (1995)

| First_Cup_Race = 1995 Dura Lube 500 (Phoenix)

| Last_Cup_Race =

| First_Cup_Win =

| Last_Cup_Win =

| Cup_Wins = 0

| Cup_Top_Tens = 0

| Cup_Poles = 0

| Total_Truck_Races = 10

| Years_In_Truck = 4

| Truck_Car_Team =

| Prev_Truck_Pos =

| Prev_Truck_Year =

| Best_Truck_Pos = 49th (1999)

| First_Truck_Race = 1996 Craftsman 200 (Portland)

| Last_Truck_Race = 1999 Dodge California Truckstop 300 (Mesa Marin)

| First_Truck_Win =

| Last_Truck_Win =

| Truck_Wins = 0

| Truck_Top_Tens = 0

| Truck_Poles = 0

}}

Ernie Cope (born July 17, 1969) is currently the competition director at Hyak Motorsports. He is a former American stock car racing crew chief and a former competitor in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series, Craftsman Truck Series and Winston West Series. He is also the cousin of 1990 Daytona 500 champion, Derrike Cope.

Driving career

He began his professional career at the age of 19 in the NASCAR Northwest Tour, winning the series' most popular driver award in 1994. In 1995 he moved to the Winston West Series and won Rookie of the Year honors as well as the Most Popular Driver award. Also that year he attempted to make his Winston Cup debut at Sears Point Raceway, as part of a combination race between the Winston Cup and Winston West series,{{cite web|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=NewsLibrary&p_multi=TNTB&d_place=TNTB&p_theme=newslibrary2&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0F11B7CE20DBCAE5&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM|title=Northwest Motorsports: Ernie Cope Aims Nationally|date=May 6, 1993|work=The News Tribune|location=Tacoma, WA|accessdate=2013-03-09}} but failed to qualify. He was able to qualify for the fall combination race at Phoenix International Raceway; however, he qualified last in the 44 car field, taking a provisional,{{cite news|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/indystar/access/1873837131.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Oct+29%2C+1995&author=CURT+CAVIN&pub=Indianapolis+Star&desc=Skinner%27s+win+over+Irvan+clinches+first+truck+title&pqatl=google|title=Skinner's win over Irvan clinches first truck title|last=Cavin|first=Curt|date=October 29, 1995|work=The Indianapolis Star|page=C8|accessdate=2013-03-09|location=Indianapolis, IN|archive-date=2016-03-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160309060831/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/indystar/doc/240160481.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS%3AFT&type=current&date=Oct%2029%2C%201995&author=CURT%20CAVIN&pub=Indianapolis%20Star&edition=&startpage=&desc=Skinner%27s%20win%20over%20Irvan%20clinches%20first%20truck%20title|url-status=dead}} and was the first car out of the race, retiring after 19 laps due to engine failure. It would be his only Cup Series start.{{cite web|url=http://www.racing-reference.info/rquery?id=copeer01&trk=t0&series=W|title=Ernie Cope - NASCAR Sprint Cup Results|work=Racing-Reference|publisher=USA Today Sports Media Group|accessdate=2013-03-09}}

In 1996 he raced in four Craftsman Truck Series races, all in the western United States with a best finish of 19th at Portland International Raceway. He finished 57th in points. He made one start each in 1997 and 1998 and made four starts in 1999 with a best finish of 22nd at Evergreen Speedway; he finished 49th in points that season, his best points finish in the series.{{cite web|url=http://www.racing-reference.info/rquery?id=copeer01&trk=t0&series=C|title=Ernie Cope NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Results|work=Racing-Reference|publisher=USA Today Sports Media Grou|accessdate=2013-03-09}}

Crew chief career

Cope retired from full-time racing at the end of the 1995 season and accepted a position at Geoff Bodine Racing to crew chief the #7 in the Truck Series. He was Sadler Motorsports' crew chief in 2004 and served in various capacities with Robert Yates Racing in 2005. In 2006 and 2007 he was the crew chief for Wood Brothers/JTG Racing's #59 team in the Busch Series. In 2008 he moved to Kevin Harvick Incorporated to crew chief the #2 Truck Series entry driven by Jack Sprague. In 2009 and 2010 he was the crew chief for KHI's #33 Nationwide Series entry.[http://www.kevinharvickinc.com/index.php/teams/nns-33-news/stewart-goes-all-in-to-deliver-armor-all-a-second-place-finish-at-texas/ STEWART GOES ‘ALL IN’ TO DELIVER ARMOR ALL A SECOND-PLACE FINISH AT TEXAS] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713144446/http://www.kevinharvickinc.com/index.php/teams/nns-33-news/stewart-goes-all-in-to-deliver-armor-all-a-second-place-finish-at-texas/ |date=2011-07-13 }}, Kevin Harvick Inc. PR, April 6, 2009 For 2011, Cope remained with KHI, being the crew chief for Elliott Sadler; he remained with the team when it was sold to Richard Childress Racing, acting as crew chief for the No. 33 with a variety of drivers in 2012 and 2013. In addition, he substituted for Luke Lambert as crew chief for Jeff Burton in the Sprint Cup Series in early 2013.{{cite web|url=http://aol.sportingnews.com/nascar/story/2013-03-08/las-vegas-race-2013-jeff-burton-crew-chief-luke-lambert-wife-pregnant-ernie-cope|title=Jeff Burton supports crew chief's decision to be home with pregnant wife|last=Pockrass|first=Bob|date=March 8, 2013|work=Sporting News|accessdate=2013-03-09}} In October 2013 he left RCR, being replaced by Nick Harrison.{{cite web|url=http://www.nationalspeedsportnews.com/nascar/nationwide/harrison-to-lead-no-33-nationwide-team/|title=Harrison To Lead No. 33 Nationwide Team|date=October 8, 2013|work=National Speed Sport News|accessdate=2013-10-08}} On December 12, 2013, it was announced that Cope would become the crew chief for the No. 5 of JR Motorsports in the Nationwide Series in 2014.{{cite web|url=http://www.nascar.com/en_us/news-media/articles/2013/12/12/ernie-cope-joins-jr-motorsports-crew-chief-number-five-car-nationwide.html|title=VETERAN CREW CHIEF ERNIE COPE JOINS JRM|work=NASCAR|date=December 12, 2013|accessdate=2014-01-05}} On August 18, 2014, Cope was announced as the crew chief of JR Motorsports' No. 9, driven by Chase Elliott, in 2015.{{cite web|url=http://www.jrmracing.com/news/2014/08/18/ernie-cope-to-crew-chief-chase-elliott-in-2015|title=Ernie Cope to Crew Chief Chase Elliott in 2015|work=JR Motorsports|date=August 18, 2014|accessdate=August 18, 2014}} Cope left JR Motorsports at the end of the 2015 season to become the Competition Director at JTG Daugherty Racing beginning in 2016.{{Cite news|url=http://www.motorsport.com/nascar-xs/news/veteran-crew-chief-ernie-cope-to-leave-jr-motorsports/|title=Veteran crew chief Ernie Cope to leave JR Motorsports|newspaper=Motorsport.com|access-date=2016-11-04}} He substituted for Randall Burnett as crew chief for A. J. Allmendinger at the June 2016 Axalta "We Paint Winners" 400 race at Pocono Raceway.

Motorsports career results

=NASCAR=

(key) (Bold - Pole position awarded by time. Italics - Pole position earned by points standings. * – Most laps led.)

==Winston Cup Series==

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:75%"
colspan=45| NASCAR Winston Cup Series results
Year

! Team

! No.

! Make

! 1

! 2

! 3

! 4

! 5

! 6

! 7

! 8

! 9

! 10

! 11

! 12

! 13

! 14

! 15

! 16

! 17

! 18

! 19

! 20

! 21

! 22

! 23

! 24

! 25

! 26

! 27

! 28

! 29

! 30

! 31

! {{Tooltip|NWCC|NASCAR Winston Cup classification}}

! Pts

! Ref

1995

! Lew Miller Racing

! 19

! Chevy

| DAY

| CAR

| RCH

| ATL

| DAR

| BRI

| NWS

| MAR

| TAL

| style="background:#FFCFCF;"| SON
DNQ

| CLT

| DOV

| POC

| MCH

| DAY

| NHA

| POC

| TAL

| IND

| GLN

| MCH

| BRI

| DAR

| RCH

| DOV

| MAR

| NWS

| CLT

| CAR

| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| PHO
44

| ATL

! 71st

! 31

! {{cite web|url=https://www.racing-reference.info/drivdet/copeer01/1995/W|title=Ernie Cope – 1995 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Results|work=Racing-Reference|publisher=NASCAR Digital Media, LLC|access-date=April 17, 2023}}

==Craftsman Truck Series==

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:75%"
colspan=45| NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series results
Year

! Team

! No.

! Make

! 1

! 2

! 3

! 4

! 5

! 6

! 7

! 8

! 9

! 10

! 11

! 12

! 13

! 14

! 15

! 16

! 17

! 18

! 19

! 20

! 21

! 22

! 23

! 24

! 25

! 26

! 27

! {{Tooltip|NCTSC|NASCAR Craftsman Truck classification}}

! Pts

! Ref

1996

! Ernie Cope Racing

! 38

! Chevy

| HOM

| PHO

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| POR
19

| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| EVG
28

| style="background:#CFCFFF;"| TUS
27

| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| CNS
31

| HPT

| BRI

| NZH

| MLW

| LVL

| I70

| IRP

| FLM

| GLN

| NSV

| RCH

| NHA

| MAR

| NWS

| SON

| MMR

| PHO

| LVS

| colspan=3|

! 57th

! 337

! {{cite web|url=https://www.racing-reference.info/drivdet/copeer01/1996/C|title=Ernie Cope – 1996 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Results|work=Racing-Reference|publisher=NASCAR Digital Media, LLC|access-date=April 17, 2023}}

1997

! Blake Motorsports

! 12

! Chevy

| WDW

| TUS

| HOM

| PHO

| POR

| EVG

| I70

| NHA

| TEX

| BRI

| NZH

| MLW

| LVL

| CNS

| HPT

| IRP

| FLM

| NSV

| GLN

| RCH

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| MAR
20

| SON

| MMR

| CAL

| PHO

| LVS

|

! 106th

! 103

! {{cite web|url=https://www.racing-reference.info/drivdet/copeer01/1997/C|title=Ernie Cope – 1997 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Results|work=Racing-Reference|publisher=NASCAR Digital Media, LLC|access-date=April 17, 2023}}

1998

! Gloy/Rahal Racing

! 55

! Ford

| WDW

| HOM

| PHO

| POR

| style="background:#CFCFFF;"| EVG
24

| I70

| GLN

| TEX

| BRI

| MLW

| NZH

| CAL

| PPR

| IRP

| NHA

| FLM

| NSV

| HPT

| LVL

| RCH

| MEM

| GTY

| MAR

| SON

| MMR

| PHO

| LVS

! 93rd

! 91

! {{cite web|url=https://www.racing-reference.info/drivdet/copeer01/1998/C|title=Ernie Cope – 1998 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Results|work=Racing-Reference|publisher=NASCAR Digital Media, LLC|access-date=April 17, 2023}}

1999

! CJ Racing

! 27

! Ford

| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| HOM
32

| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| PHO
29

| style="background:#CFCFFF;"| EVG
22

| style="background:#CFCFFF;"| MMR
25

| MAR

| MEM

| PPR

| I70

| BRI

| TEX

| PIR

| GLN

| MLW

| NSV

| NZH

| MCH

| NHA

| IRP

| GTY

| HPT

| RCH

| LVS

| LVL

| TEX

| CAL

| colspan=2|

! 49th

! 328

! {{cite web|url=https://www.racing-reference.info/drivdet/copeer01/1999/C|title=Ernie Cope – 1999 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Results|work=Racing-Reference|publisher=NASCAR Digital Media, LLC|access-date=April 17, 2023}}

References

{{reflist}}

External links

  • {{Racing-Reference driver|Ernie_Cope}}
  • {{Racing-Reference crewchief|Ernie_Cope}}

{{HYAK Motorsports}}

{{Gloy-Rahal Racing}}

{{Cope racing family}}

{{ARCAROTY}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cope, Ernie}}

Category:Living people

Category:1969 births

Category:People from Spanaway, Washington

Category:Sportspeople from Pierce County, Washington

Category:Racing drivers from Washington (state)

Category:NASCAR crew chiefs

Category:NASCAR drivers

Category:Cope family

Category:Sportspeople from Tacoma, Washington